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News |  26 Feb 2013 17:59 |  By RnMTeam

Dr Liaqat Jafri: "I belong to old school of music"

MUMBAI: Renowned Urdu writer and poet Dr Liaqat Jafri, who had written a nazm (an Urdu poetic form that is normally written in rhymed verse) for victims of 26/11 Mumbai attack, has gained attention in bollywood after his lyrics are used in the track ‘Raghupati Raghav’ from ‘The Attacks of 26/11’.

Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Jafri said, “I wrote the poem few days after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and it was published in YouTube where it was liked and shared by many people. As soon as I heard that Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) was making a movie on the tragedy I thought why shouldn’t I contribute. Then I got connected with music composer Vishal Khosla.”

Khosla said, “It was a filmy episode, he saw that I was connected to the film ‘The Attacks of 26/11’. So he approached me and made me listen to the nazm which was a six minute poem published in YouTube. I liked it very much and decided to use it in my song.”

Jafri revealed that films were never a reason for him to write poems. “I never thought that my intense lyrics would be a part of a film. It was a good opportunity for me to enter into bollywood and I am surprised as people struggle a lot but still don’t get a break in spite of being there in Mumbai. It was like a dream come true for me.” He further added that back home in Jammu and Kashmir his friends and families are very delighted with the fact that his name will feature in the end credits of the film.

He noted that he belongs to the old school of music and the new trend of item songs and profane lyrics is not his pick. “I will not be able to write the new style of lyrics like Chikni Chameli, Munni and other loud songs. Even if I write these kind of songs it will be difficult for people to hear. I think I can do it easily but I will not be able to answer my conscience. For me, respect is the most important and I want to be proud of my work.”

Dr Jafri is currently in Mumbai to attend The Film Writers Association conference, which will be held at St Andrew’s Auditorium in Mumbai between 25-27 February. The topic of discussion will be about the style of so-called lyric writers who have dropped the quality in script writing and lyrics. “If you see the old standard set by Sahir Ludhianvi, Javed Akhtar and Gulzar back then you will see me be a part of the chain,” added Dr Jafri.

Dr. Jafri has recently been nominated as member of ‘The Film Writers Association of India’ a main body of film writers, poets, screen play writers among others.

Dr Jafri hailing from Poonch district, is presently working as assistant prof. at MAM College, Jammu. He has written more than half a dozen books in Urdu and contributed number of research articles to national and international journals. The University of Jammu has conferred Directorate Degree (Ph.D) upon him in 2003, in Urdu. Later the State Government has appointed him as first convener of Urdu Committee constituted to give advice to State regarding promotion of Urdu language in J&K. He has traveled to Pakistan in 2002 in a Cultural delegation. He has participated in a number of International and National seminar, Mushairas as critic and poet.

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